16 June '26
Grand Prix glory for Landon de Nyze Z at Spruce Meadows
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Studbook
© Spruce Meadows Media - Mike Sturk
With the Longines Global Champions Tour in St. Tropez and the CSIO in La Baule, two five-star show jumping events have already taken place in Europe over the past few days, but top-level show jumping was also on display across the Atlantic last weekend. The setting was the magnificent grass arena at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, where the spotlight was on the Comilfo Plus Z son Landon de Nyze Z.
On Saturday evening, it was ‘Grand Prix time’ in Calgary, with a total of thirty rider-horse combinations taking to the arena. Course designer Olaf Petersen and his team had once again conjured up a superb course for this RBC Grand Prix of Canada, presented by Rolex, with six pairs ultimately progressing to the ultimate jump-off. Victory went to the Colombian rider Mark Bluman and the 13-year-old gelding Landon De Nyze Z, the son of Comilfo Plus Z and Quadrillo from the stud farm of Danny Nijs. Bluman and Landon De Nyze Z, who had also secured4th place in the qualifier for this Grand Prix on Thursday, were one of two pairs who once again managed to keep it clear, and with a finishing time of 44.44 seconds, they were a good four full seconds ahead of their closest rivals.
Another standout pairing in Calgary was Irish rider Daniel Coyle and his 13-year-old mare Urville Z, a daughter of Ukato and Crown Z who was bred in the Netherlands by J.G.M. Meijer. Coyle and Urville Z got off to an excellent start on Thursday, securing a top-three finish in the 1.55m Grand Prix qualifier. In a jump-off for which twelve pairs had qualified, they once again rode a flawless round and securedsecond place with this performance. On the final day on Sunday, they once again made their mark. This time, they jumped to6th place in the 1.50m class.
On the opening day on Thursday, Brazilian rider Gabriel De Matos Machado also secured a podium finish with the 10-year-old stallion Commander HK Z, a son of Comme Il Faut and Emerald van ’t Ruytershof, bred by Tim Van Hal and Olivia Kinneson of Halkin Stables. They competed in the 1.50m class, where they added athird-place finish to their list of achievements.
In addition to the five-star competition, however, there were also two-star events taking place in Calgary over the past few days, and several Z-level horses made their mark there too. For instance, during Sunday’s CSI2* Grand Prix, American rider Will Simpson and the 15-year-old grey gelding Victor Z (Vittorio x Concorde – breeder: Has Jarhall) secured a top-five finish. Both in the first round and in the jump-off, Simpson and Victor Z were flawless, which ultimately earned them4th place.
Finally, Simpson’s compatriot Blythe Karolyi also enjoyed a successful weekend with the 10-year-old mare Baileys van de Broy Z (Bisquet Balou van de Mispelaere x Lord Z – breeder: Birgit Engelbosch). They began their competition on Thursday with a6th place in the 1.40m class and secured another4th place on Saturday in yet another 1.40m class.